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A triangle of friendship, love, sex, and, perhaps, murder. Minou is newly married to Peter, a businessman in debt as he works to bring a new product to market. They met through Dominique, sexually voracious, Minou's best friend, and Peter's former (and possibly still) lover. A stranger accosts Minou one night on the beach while Peter is away. He tells her that Peter has murdered a business associate and blackmails her into sleeping with him. He compounds the blackmail with photos taken of their tryst. To Minou's surprise, this same stranger is in a pornographic photo Dominique has imported from Denmark. Is this all a game, and if so, who's behind it?

"Le Foto Proibite Di Una Signora Per Bene" aka. "The Forbidden Photos of a Lady Above Suspicion" (1970) is the first of three Gialli by Luciano Ercoli, the others being the fantastic "La Morte Cammina Con I Tacchi Alti" ("Death Walks With High Heels", 1971) and the decent "La Morte Accarezza a Mezzanotte" ("Death Walks At Midnight", 1972). This is actually a highly unusual Giallo as it lacks the usual violent and stylish murders almost entirely; however, it makes up for the lack of bloodshed with a hugely compelling plot that will tantalize the viewer from start to finish.

When walking alone at night Minou (Dagmar Lassander) is attacked by an assailant (Simón Andreu). He does not rape her, but blackmails her with supposed proof of her husband Peter's (Pier Paolo Capponi) role in a murder. And it isn't money that the blackmailer is keen on.... Scripted by the great Ernesto Gastaldi, whose impressive filmography as a screenwriter includes Ercoli's other two Gialli and numerous others as well as several of the works of master directors like Mario Bava, Antonio Margheriti and Sergio Martino, "Forbidden Photos..." has a fascinating and constantly tense plot full of intrigue, red herrings and sexual perversions. The film is often referred to as a very 'sexy' Giallo; while the film has a plot filled with sex, it isn't explicit though, and actually quite tame for Giallo standards (there is no explicit filmed nudity, just some nude photos of sexy Nieves Navarro are shown). The film is almost blood-less and doubtlessly one of the least goriest Gialli ever made.

The cast is entirely great. All three of Ercoli's Gialli star Spanish actress Nieves Navarro and her countryman Simón Andreu. Andreu is great in the role of the sex-crazed blackmailer and the ravishing Miss Navarro is once again fantastic in her role of Minou's nymphomaniac friend. Dagmar Lassander ("Hatchet for the Honeymoon") fits perfectly in the leading role of the victim, she seems incredibly vulnerable and innocent. Pier Paolo Capponi ("Il Boss", "Cat O'Nine Tails", "Seven Blood-Stained Orchids") is once again great in his role. The film has a wonderfully elegant, typical early 70s look and the cinematography is fantastic, even by high Giallo Standards. The score was composed by none other than Ennio Morricone, needless to say that it is brilliant and perfectly increases the tension and atmosphere. In spite of a very low violence-level, "Forbidden Photos of a Lady Above Suspicion" manages to be an incredibly suspenseful Giallo-experience from start to finish. My personal favorite film by Ercoli is still "Death Walks with High Heels", but this one comes very close and is an undeniable must-see for any Giallo fan. Highly Recommended!